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Sunday, 18 February 2018

The "Hidden Jews" of the East

Many of us have heard about the fate of the Spanish Jews who
lived under the Inquisition, the Anoosim. Few, however, myself included, have
heard about the Mashadi Jews in Iran who had to endure a similar fate.

A few days ago, I met with a descendant of one such family, Kami Izhakov. This
is their story.

Their story begins in 1734 when a king by the name of Nadir
Shah, a tolerant man, sought to fortify the northeastern border of then Persia.
Towards that end, he brought Jews and resettled them in Mashad, in the District
of Khorasan. It is the second holiest city to Shiite Muslims and was,
therefore, forbidden to Jews.

The city of Mashad is situated on the silk road was renowned for commerce,
mainly leather and fur. The King’s decision paid off. Soon after the
resettlement of Jews there, prosperity followed. Their business sagacity
coupled with their international connection soon helped the Jews turn the city
into a vibrant business center. Even the Muslim residents who had treated the
Jews contemptuously and had shunned them socially, soon enjoyed their
contributions. Relationships between the two communities improved and both enjoyed the wealth and economic growth.

Unfortunately, after the assassination of the king twelve years later, Muslims
began to persecute the Jews and make their lives unbearable.

According to some accounts, matters got worse following an incident which
occurred in 1838. A Jewish woman who suffered from leprosy, sought the advice
of her doctor. The latter suggested that she uses the blood of a dog to treat
her ailment. The woman hired a young Muslim boy to kill a dog for her. The two
had a scuffle and the young boy announced to the Muslims that Jews killed a dog
during the holy fast day for the revered Ali whom the Shi’a Muslims consider
the First Imam appointed by Muhammad.

That incident triggered the resurgence of Muslim hatred to Jews. On that day,
crowds of Muslims burst into Jewish homes, pillaged, burned houses and the
synagogue and murdered 32 Jews. The Jewish community at that time counted 400
people.

From that day on, the Jews of Mashad, endured a similar fate
to the Jews of Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. They became,
outwardly, “Jadid Al Islam,” the New Muslims sadly assumed the role of leading
a double life, one Jewish, one Muslim. It was reflected in their names, customs
and practices.

The clever and pious Jews of Mashad, however, managed to remain loyal to their
Judaism by using various means to deceive their Muslim oppressors. They prayed
in cellars. They stationed a woman at the entrance to their buildings which
stopped the entry of Muslims. They opened their shops on Shabbat but never
conducted business. A child would generally be put in charge of the store and instructed
to tell the customers that the owner was gone or that the merchandise they wish
to purchase was not available.

Keeping Kashrut on Pesach was a more difficult endeavor. Yet, the Jews of
Mashad never failed that either. They baked their own Matzah and continued to
buy bread which they eventually shared among the poor residents of the city.
Throughout their history, the Jews of Mashad postponed the Pesach celebration
by about one week due to persecution and intimidation by their Muslim
neighbours.

Kosher slaughter, another important tenet of our Jewish culture, as difficult
as it was at times, was also adhered to by these Jews. On one occasion, a
ritual slaughterer was caught, tortured and eventually killed for performing
this important Mitzvah.

Their double life was also reflected in the way, Mashad Jews attended houses of
worship. Prior to entry into the mosque, they would ask forgiveness from G-d.
On Friday mornings, they would go to the Mosque and in the evening observe the
Shabbat rituals at home, in secrecy of course.

Under pressure applied by their Muslim authorities, many Jews were also forced
to perform the custom of the Haj. Those that partook in the pilgrimage to
Mecca, were honoured immensely. Funnily enough, they were the leaders of the
Jewish community and were the most staunch and devout believers.

One of them was Kami’s grandfather.

Born in 1883 under the Name Rachamim Ben Yitzchak, he adopted the Muslim name
Abdul Karim Izhakov. As one of the leaders of the Jewish community in
Mashad, Rachamim was very influential. He was a successful businessman who
travelled much and was there fore able to maintin valuable contacts with Jewish
communities elsewhere. That important fact helped him smuggle a Sefer Torah to
Mashad from Russia, a Sefer Torah that is proudly housed in a synagogue in
Ramat Hasharon.

Moreover, when Rachamim made the Haj pilgrimage, he stopped in Eretz Yisrael
and bought a piece of land in Yerushalayim. He was determined to ensure that he strikes Jewish Zionist roots for his future generatiosn here in Eretz
Yisrael.

During WWII when Jewish children, later known as The Teheran Children, made
their way out of the inferno in Poland on their way to Eretz Yisrael, it was
Rachamim and his fellow Jewish community members that hosted them and helped
ease the trauma that those kids had undergone.

With the rise to power of Riza Shah, the father of the late Shah, life became
easier for the Jews of Mashahd. About 2000 of them realized their dream to move
to Eretz Yisrael.

It is accounts like this one thatmake
my Jewish essence overflow with pride and awe echoing over and over again the
ancient bliss, “Am Yisrael Chai!”

The Jewish people were oppressed, prospered with everyone else, but that brought the religious ire of the Imams and the cycle started all over again with severe oppression and forced "conversion".

Yet it was even worse under the christians in Europe and later in Russia with the pogroms. thanks for taking the time and effort to put life we live today in a proper historical perspective. We are so blessed!

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